Method for installing a pile

Abstract

The system and method for installation includes lowering a pile from a surface to an ocean floor and partially embedding the pile. An installation pile is lowered onto the pile and partially embedding over and around the pile. The installation pile is sealed, and water is pumped from the installation pile to embed the installation pile to a set depth and to form a pressurized zone within the installation interior volume. The set depth corresponds to a hydraulic cylinder in the installation pile being made adjacent to the pile. The hydraulic cylinder actuates to embed the pile to an anchor depth, which is the desired depth of the installation. Water is pumped back into the installation pile to release the pressurized zone and to lift the installation pile from the set depth. The installation pile can return to a vessel at a surface.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method for installation, said method comprising the steps of:
 lowering a pile from a surface to an ocean floor, said pile being comprised of a generally cylindrical body; 
 partially embedding said pile to an initial depth based on weight of said pile, said pile having an initial soil plug and an initial interior volume within the cylindrical body; 
 confirming vertical orientation of said pile; 
 lowering an installation pile onto said pile, said installation pile being comprised of a generally cylindrical installation body having a top installation surface with installation vent valves on a closed end, an installation skirt on an opened end, and a hydraulic cylinder, said top installation surface covering said pile; 
 partially embedding said installation pile to an initial installation depth based on weight of said installation pile, said installation pile having an initial installation soil plug and initial installation interior volume within the cylindrical installation body, said hydraulic cylinder being aligned with said pile; 
 sealing said installation pile; 
 pumping water from said installation pile from said initial installation interior volume so as to embed said installation pile to a set depth and form a pressurized zone within said installation interior volume; 
 embedding said pile to an anchor depth with said hydraulic cylinder having a piston on a distal end and a connection port on a proximal end, said hydraulic cylinder being mounted in said installation interior volume, said piston being adjacent said pile within said installation interior volume and actuated by said hydraulic cylinder, said pile moving from said initial depth in said pressurized zone within said installation interior volume to said anchor depth by said piston; 
 pumping water back into said installation pile so as to remove the pressurized zone after said pile is at said anchor depth; 
 lifting said installation pile from said set depth; and 
 returning said installation pile to a vessel at a surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The method for installation, according to  claim 1 , said installation pile being further comprised of a conical sheath within the cylindrical installation body and a tubular cavity extending from a top of said conical sheath and through said top installation surface, the step of lowering said installation pile onto said pile further comprising:
 aligning said pile with said tubular cavity, said pile being inserted into said tubular cavity. 
 
     
     
       3. The method for installation, according to  claim 2 , said hydraulic cylinder being mounted in said tubular cavity, the step of embedding said pile further comprising:
 extending said piston from said tubular cavity. 
 
     
     
       4. The method for installation, according to  claim 1 , said installation vent valves being open during the step of lowering said installation pile and during the step of partially embedding said installation pile. 
     
     
       5. The method for installation, according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 filling said initial installation interior volume with water during the step of partially embedding said installation pile. 
 
     
     
       6. The method for installation, according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of sealing said installation pile comprises:
 closing said installation vent valves of the installation pile. 
 
     
     
       7. The method for installation, according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of sealing said installation pile comprises:
 closing said installation vent valves of the installation pile with a first remotely operated vehicle (ROV). 
 
     
     
       8. The method for installation, according to  claim 7 , wherein the step of pumping water from said installation pile from said initial installation interior volume comprises:
 attaching a pump of the first ROV to said installation pile. 
 
     
     
       9. The method for installation, according to  claim 1 , wherein said set depth of the step of pumping water from said installation pile corresponds to said piston of said hydraulic cylinder abutting said pile. 
     
     
       10. The method for installation, according to  claim 1 , wherein said pressurized zone is between said installation soil plug and said top installation surface. 
     
     
       11. The method for installation, according to  claim 8 , wherein the step of embedding said pile to said anchor depth comprises the step of:
 maintaining said pressurized zone with the first ROV; 
 connecting a second remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to said connection port of said hydraulic cylinder; 
 pumping fluid through said connection port; and 
 lowering said piston from said distal end. 
 
     
     
       12. The method for installation, according to  claim 11 , wherein said pump of the first ROV pumps water back into said installation pile, the method further comprising the step of:
 releasing the second ROV from said hydraulic cylinder, after the step of pumping water back into said installation pile. 
 
     
     
       13. The method for installation, according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of lifting said installation pile from said set depth further comprises:
 separating said initial installation soil plug from the cylindrical installation body. 
 
     
     
       14. The method for installation, according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of:
 returning the first ROV and the second ROV to a vessel at a surface. 
 
     
     
       15. An installation system, comprising:
 the pile being comprised of the generally cylindrical body and lowered from a surface to an ocean floor, according to the method of  claim 1 ; 
 the installation pile being comprised of the generally cylindrical installation body having the top installation surface with installation vent valves on the closed end and the installation skirt on the opened end, said installation pile being removable engaged to said pile, said top installation surface covering said pile; 
 the hydraulic cylinder mounted within said installation pile, said hydraulic cylinder having the piston on the distal end and the connection port on the proximal end, said hydraulic cylinder being aligned with said pile, 
 wherein said pile and said installation pile have an adjacent configuration with said pile abutting said piston within said installation interior volume, said pile at said set depth, and 
 wherein said pile and said installation pile have an extended configuration with said pile abutting said piston within said installation interior volume, said pile being at said anchor depth; 
 a first remotely operated vehicle (ROV) removably engaged with said installation pile; and 
 a second remotely operated vehicle (ROV) removably engaged with said hydraulic cylinder through said connection port. 
 
     
     
       16. The installation system, according to  claim 15 , wherein said installation pile further comprises:
 a conical sheath within the cylindrical installation body; and 
 a tubular cavity extending from a top of said conical sheath and through said top installation surface, 
 wherein said pile and said installation pile having an aligned configuration with said pile aligned with said tubular cavity, and 
 wherein said pile is removably inserted within said tubular cavity. 
 
     
     
       17. The installation system, according to  claim 16 , said hydraulic cylinder being mounted in said tubular cavity. 
     
     
       18. The installation system, according to  claim 15 , wherein said installation vent valves of the installation pile are closed by the first ROV, said installation pile having a sealed configuration,
 wherein said water in said installation pile is pumped from said installation pile by the first ROV, said installation pile having a pressured configuration, and 
 wherein said pile and said installation pile move from said adjacent configuration to said extended configuration, when said installation pile is in said pressured configuration. 
 
     
     
       19. The installation system, according to  claim 18 , wherein said piston being actuated by the second ROV, when said pile and said installation pile move from said adjacent configuration to said extended configuration. 
     
     
       20. The installation system, according to  claim 19 , wherein the first ROV pumps additional water into said installation pile, said installation pile having an equalized configuration,
 wherein the second ROV releases from said hydraulic cylinder, when said installation pile is in said equalized configuration after said pressurized configuration, 
 wherein said installation pile separates from said pile when said installation pile is in said equalized configuration after said pressurized configuration, and 
 wherein the first ROV releases from said installation pile, after said installation pile is separated from said pile and the ocean floor.